History

TVXQ (often stylized TVXQ! or TVfXQ[1]), an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi (東方神起), are a South Korean boy band quintet formed under SM Entertainment in 2003. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki (동방신기);[fn 1] they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki (東方神起?) under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone in 2005. Their name roughly translates as "Rising Gods of the East".

In 2008, with the release of their sixteenth Japanese single, "Purple Line", which debuted atop the Oricon, TVXQ became the fifth non-Japanese Asian artist and the first male foreign group to have a number-one single on the chart. With their twenty-third single, "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?", TVXQ set a new record, becoming the first non-Japanese Asian artist to have three singles debut atop the chart. In 2009, with the release their twenty-fifth single, "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide", TVXQ broke their own record making them the first non-Japanese Asian artist to have five number-one singles.

Since their debut, TVXQ has become one of the most popular singing groups in East Asia, gaining great popularity in such countries as China, Singapore, Thailand, and other East Asian regions

History

2003–2005: Debut

Before their debut, the group was offered three tentative names: O Jang Yukbu (오장육부 lit. The Five Visceras), Jeonseoleul Meokgo Saneun Golae (전설을 먹고 사는 고래 lit. A Whale That Eats Legends), and Dong Bang Bul Pae (동방불패, the Korean title of Ashes of Time). They decided on Dong Bang Bul Pae; however, the name was rejected because the Hanja was not aesthetically pleasing, and the name was changed to Dong Bang Shin Ki.

TVXQ made their debut on December 26, 2003 during a BoA and Britney Spears showcase, where they performed their debut single "Hug" and an a cappella rendition of "O Holy Night" with BoA. The group released their debut single "Hug" in January 2004; it peaked at #4 on the monthly charts and sold a total of 169,532 copies, making it the fourteenth best-selling record of the year. Their second single, "The Way U Are" (July 2004), debuted at #2 spot on the charts, becoming the ninth best-selling-record of the year, selling 214,069 copies. TVXQ released their debut album, Tri-Angle (October 2004). Tri-angle debuted atop the charts and sold a total of 242,580 copies, making it the year's eighth best-selling record.

In April 2005, TVXQ debuted in Japan under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone with the single "Stay with Me Tonight". They released their second Japanese single, "Somebody to Love", before returning to Korea and releasing their second Korean album Rising Sun. Rising Sun debuted atop the charts and became the fourth best-selling-record of 2005 with a total of 222,472 copies sold. TVXQ ended the year with two releases: their third Japanese single, "My Destiny", and a Korean single with label-mate Super Junior, "Show Me Your Love". The latter debuted atop the charts and sold 49,945 copies, making it the thirty-fifth best-selling record of the year. At the end of the year, TVXQ received the Best Music Video award for the song "Rising Sun" and the People's Choice Award at the 2005 Mnet KM Music Video Festival.

2006–2007: Foray into Asia

TVXQ began 2006 with their first international tour, Rising Sun 1st Asia Tour. In addition to South Korea, they toured in China, Thailand, and Malaysia, making them the first Korean performers to hold a concert in Malaysia. In March, the group released their fourth Japanese single, "Asu wa Kuru Kara" (明日は来るから, lit. Because Tomorrow Will Come?), and their debut Japanese album, Heart, Mind and Soul. The album debuted on the weekly Oricon album chart at #25 with 9,554 copies sold. Their fifth Japanese single, "Rising Sun/Heart, Mind and Soul", released a month later, debuted on the Oricon singles chart at #22. To support the album, TVXQ held their first Japanese tour, 1st Live Tour 2006: Heart, Mind and Soul, from May to June. TVXQ released two more Japanese singles, "Begin" and "Sky". The latter debuted at #6, making it the group's first single to reach the Top Ten. In the summer, TVXQ performed in Avex's annual A-Nation summer concert.

The group resumed their Korean activities with the release of their third album, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. ("O"-正.反.合. lit. "O"-Thesis.Antithesis.Synthesis)[fn 3] (September 2006). Like their previous Korean albums, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. debuted atop the charts. With a total of 349,317 copies sold, it became the number-one record of the year. Two months after "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap, the group released another Japanese single, "Miss You/"O" - Sei-Han-Gō" (miss you/"O"‐正・反・合, lit. Miss You/"O" - Positivity-Negativity-Combination?), which debuted on the chart at #3, making it their first Top Five single. At the 2006 MKMF Music Festival, TVXQ won four awards, "Best Artist of the Year", "Best Group", "Mnet.com" and "Mnet Plus Mobile People's Choice Award". At the 16th Music Seoul Festival, TVXQ won three awards including a "Daesang" award. The group won another "Daesang" award at the 21st Golden Disk Awards 2006, in addition to a "Bonsang". At the SBS Gayo Awards 2006, TVXQ won another "Daesang" and "Bonsang" award.

TVXQ began 2007 with a new Japanese single, "Step By Step", which was followed by their second Asian tour, The 2nd Asia Tour Concert 'O'. The tour took place in Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Beijing. In March, the group released their tenth Japanese single, "Choosey Lover", and their second Japanese album, Five in the Black. Both debuted in the Top 10 of their respective charts, the former at #9 and the latter at #10. In May, the group attended the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards Japan and won the "Best Buzz Asia in Korea" award for their album "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. From June to December 2007, the group released a string of five singles: "Lovin' You", "Summer: Summer Dream/Song for You/Love in the Ice", "Shine / Ride On", "Forever Love" and "Together". "Summer: Summer Dream/Song for You/Love in the Ice" reached #2 on the Oricon, making it the group's highest-charting Japanese single to that point. TVXQ also collaborated with label-mate Kumi Koda for her thirty-eighth single, "Last Angel", which was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of Resident Evil: Extinction.

2008–present: Rise of popularity in Japan and return to Korea
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TVXQ live at SM Town Live in Bangkok

TVXQ released their sixteenth Japanese single, "Purple Line", on January 16, 2008. It debuted atop the Oricon, becoming the group's first number-one in Japan and making them first foreign male group to have a number-one single in Japan. They then released their third Japanese album, T, which debuted at #4 on the Oricon Weekly album chart. TVXQ's label Rhythm Zone, announced the "Trick" project where five singles would be released consecutively for six weeks, from February to March and each single would contain a solo track by a member. The group released their twenty-third single, "Beautiful You / Sennen Koi Uta" in April. The single became another number-one for the group and made them the first non-Japanese Asians with two number-one singles since Ou-Yang Fei Fei set the record 24 years before. They returned to Korea to participate in the 14th Annual Dream Concert at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul on June 7. On June 12, TVXQ concluded their Asia Tour in Beijing which had begun on February 23, 2007 in Seoul. TVXQ returned to Japan and released their twenty-fourth single, "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?". The single topped the chart, making TVXQ the first non-Japanese Asian artists to have three number-one singles on the Oricon. They performed at Avex's 20th anniversary meeting and at A-Nation '08. In August, TVXQ returned to Korea once again to take part in SMTown Live '08. They performed alongside label-mates BoA, Cheon Sang Ji Hee the Grace, Girls' Generation, Shinee and Super Junior.

The group's fourth Korean album, Mirotic, was slated to be released on September 24 but due to the large number of pre-orders was pushed back two days. Like their previous Korean album, Mirotic debuted atop the charts with 307,974 copies sold. In early January 2009, the album's sales totaled 502,837 copies, making it the first Korean album in six years to pass the 500,000 mark. In October, TVXQ released "Jumon: Mirotic", the Japanese version of Mirotic's title track. The single topped the Oricon chart, breaking the record that the group had set with their previous single. TVXQ attended Kōhaku Uta Gassen Music Festival on New Year's Eve, making them first Korean band to attend.

Their twenty-fifth single "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide", released in January 2009, debuted at the top spot on the Oricon, making them the first and only non-Japanese Asians to have five number-one singles debut atop the Oricon chart. "Bolero" will be used as the theme song for the Japanese movie Subaru, in which TVXQ will make a cameo. TVXQ's fourth Japanese album, The Secret Code, will be released on March 25, 2009.

Musical style

Although TVXQ was initially marketed as an a cappella group, most of the group's music is mainstream K-pop and J-pop. Their debut single "Hug" was a pop song, but their follow up single "The Way U Are" was a dance/R&B number, complete with stylized outfits and choreographed dance moves. However the song of their first album, '믿어요(I Believe...)', was a ballad. TVXQ concluded the year with a Christmas album that also had an a cappella version of "Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring".

With consecutive releases, they have not moved from this formula, as their second and third albums have had a similar mixture without moving outside of the mainstream. The second album's singles, for example, included a dance song (their first release) and a ballad (their follow up). The third album's releases have been dance, ballad and pop tracks. The group also recorded a cappella tracks for official albums released in both Korea and Japan, in which they rearrange original songs as a cappella versions. In the 13th single released in Japan, TVXQ arranged their debut single 'Hug' as an a cappella track and performed it in their 2nd Live Tour in Japan.

Lyrics and composition

The majority of the lyrics and composition to TVXQ's songs are done by their staff. On occasion, the members of the group contribute to the writing of the lyrics and composition. On their second Korean album, Rising Sun, Micky, U-Know, and Xiah wrote the rap lyrics to "Love After Love". For the third Korean album, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap., Micky wrote the English rap lyrics to "Phantom Hwanyeong" and Xiah wrote and composed "Nae Gyeote Sumsiur Su Ittdamyeon (White Lie)" (네 곁에 숨쉴 수 있다면). Their fourth Korean album, Mirotic, saw an increase in the members' participation: Hero wrote and composed Saranga Uljima (Don't Cry My Lover) (사랑아 울지마), Max wrote the Korean lyrics for "Love in the Ice", Micky wrote and composed Sarang Annyeong Sarang (Love Bye Love) (사랑 안녕 사랑), and Xiah wrote Noeur.. Baraboda (Picture of You) (노을..바라보다).

For their Japanese album, T, Micky wrote "Kiss Shita Mama, Sayonara" (Kissしたまま、さよなら, lit. As We Kiss, Goodbye?) and co-composed the song with Hero.[60] Micky also wrote the lyrics for his solo, "My Girlfriend" for the second single in the Trick project, Runaway/My Girlfriend.[61] Xiah composed his solo track, "Rainy Night", for the third single in the Trick project. Hero wrote and co-composed ""Wasurenaide" (忘れないで, lit. Don't Forget?) and Micky wrote and composed "Kiss the Baby Sky", songs on their twenty-fifth single, "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide", as the last two A-sides.